Nursing school admissions · updated September 2026
TEAS vs HESI A2: which nursing entrance exam should you prepare for?
TEAS and HESI A2 both appear in nursing and health-program admissions, but they are not interchangeable. The fastest study plan starts by confirming which exam your target school requires, then building the common academic foundation before switching to exam-specific practice.
The short answer
ATI TEAS Version 7
A standardized four-section exam: Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English and Language Usage. ATI publishes a fixed overall structure of 170 total questions and 209 minutes.
HESI A2
A separate admission assessment from Elsevier. Its review materials cover mathematics, reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, biology, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology, while schools can determine which subject modules they require.
TEAS vs HESI A2 comparison
| Feature | ATI TEAS 7 | HESI A2 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Academic readiness for health-science applicants | Admission assessment for healthcare education programs |
| Core structure | 4 sections | Subject modules selected according to program requirements |
| Published subjects | Reading, Mathematics, Science, English and Language Usage | Math, reading, vocabulary, grammar, biology, chemistry, A&P |
| Total exam length | 170 questions; 209 minutes | Depends on the modules assigned by the program |
| Best first step | Use the current ATI content outline | Get your school's exact required module list |
What can you study once for both exams?
Start with the high-overlap foundation. This prevents you from duplicating weeks of work if you are applying to several programs that use different admissions tests.
- Reading comprehension and evidence-based passage interpretation
- Mathematics foundations, ratios, proportions, fractions, decimals, and applied calculations
- Anatomy and physiology
- Biology foundations and scientific reasoning
- Chemistry foundations
- Grammar and English usage
- Vocabulary strategies, especially if your program assigns the HESI vocabulary module
If your school requires the TEAS
Build practice around the published ATI structure instead of treating TEAS as a generic science exam. The current exam gives separate timed sections for Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English and Language Usage. ATI also uses several item formats, including multiple choice, multiple select, fill-in-the-blank numeric, ordered response, and hot spots.
If your school requires the HESI A2
Do not assume another applicant's HESI subject list is yours. Elsevier publishes separate subject exams, and its faculty guidance explicitly notes that science assessments such as anatomy and physiology, biology, and chemistry may or may not be assigned depending on curriculum prerequisites. Obtain the current admissions checklist from every school you are applying to, then practise only the modules that matter for that application.
A practical 4-week starter plan
- Week 1: take a diagnostic and rebuild math plus reading foundations.
- Week 2: concentrate on anatomy and physiology, biology, and chemistry gaps.
- Week 3: add English usage, grammar, and vocabulary, then begin timed mixed practice.
- Week 4: switch the majority of practice to your required exam's exact structure and review every missed item by concept, not just by answer.
Need the broader foundation first? Start in the Pre-Nursing hub and build from lessons into practice rather than repeatedly retaking full tests without remediation.
What score do you need?
Treat your school's admissions page as authoritative. Programs set their own admission thresholds and policies, and those requirements can change. Avoid choosing a target score from a forum, another school, or an old cohort screenshot. Save the current program requirement and verify it again before you book or retake an exam.
Official exam sources
Exam mechanics on this page are anchored to the test publishers. For the latest details, verify directly with ATI's TEAS exam details and Elsevier's current HESI Admission Assessment review.
Turn the comparison into a study plan
Use NurseNest's free pre-nursing lessons to identify gaps, then move into the TEAS or HESI pathway your program actually requires. Focused remediation is more useful than collecting practice scores without fixing the concepts underneath them.
Start pre-nursing prepTEAS vs HESI A2 FAQ
Are the TEAS and HESI A2 the same exam?
No. ATI TEAS Version 7 is a four-section admissions exam covering Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English and Language Usage. HESI A2 is a separate Elsevier admissions assessment whose subject modules can be selected by a school or program.
Which is harder, TEAS or HESI A2?
There is no universal answer because difficulty depends on your academic strengths and, for HESI A2, the modules your program requires. Use your target school's current admissions requirements as the source of truth and prepare for the exact exam and subjects it lists.
Can I study for TEAS and HESI A2 at the same time?
Yes. Reading, mathematics, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, vocabulary, grammar, and general science foundations overlap enough that a shared foundation plan is efficient. Then add exam-specific timed practice for the test your program requires.
How many questions are on the ATI TEAS?
ATI states that TEAS Version 7 has 170 total questions and 209 minutes of allocated testing time across Reading, Mathematics, Science, and English and Language Usage.
Does every school use the same HESI A2 sections?
No. Elsevier's faculty guidance describes separate subject exams and notes that programs may or may not require science modules such as anatomy and physiology, biology, or chemistry depending on their prerequisites. Confirm the exact modules with your school.